Laws for Cannabis Growing in Tulare, California

Growing, smoking, distributing, transporting and possessing medical cannabis, also known as medical marijuana, is legal in California's Tulare County. You must, however, abide by state laws, and county ordinances and regulations to stay out of trouble. Under Proposition 215, California has established a medical exception to state drug laws for people with a doctor's prescription to use cannabis for treatment.

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Cooperatives and Nonprofit Collectives

Tulare county allows licensed, nonprofit collectives and cooperatives to grow and distribute medical cannabis to their members for the sole purpose of dispensing it to patients who need it. The law on medical cannabis in Tulare derives from Proposition 215, passed in 1996, which allows the cultivation, possession and use of medical cannabis by a patient. In 2004, the state enacted the Medical Marijuana Program to clarify the scope of Proposition 215. This law provides participating patients with immunity for growing, possessing, selling or transporting medical cannabis. The California Department of Public Health California has granted counties the authority to administer the Medical Marijuana Program.

Medical Cannabis Zones

Medical cannabis can be grown in designated commercial and industrial zones within Tulare County. It must be shielded from public view and be under tight security to prevent theft. Violation can lead to a lawsuit by the county.

Protection From Prosecution

Growing marijuana for profit in Tulare, or anywhere in California, is unlawful. You can, however, cultivate medical marijuana "with limited defense." Limited defense requires you to abide by all state and county laws to protect yourself from prosecution. Cannabis is still a controlled substance in Tulare and across California and federal law does not recognize medical cannabis.

The Amount Patients Are Allowed to Grow

In Tulare, a patient with a prescription is allowed to grow 6 mature or 12 immature plants of cannabis and 8 ounces of bud. According to the California Health and Safety Code HS 11362.5 (Prop 215), a patient is allowed to grow more if a doctor recommends a higher dosage. Under the California Medical Marijuana Program, patients and their primary caregivers are provided with an identification card issued by the state after registering with the California Department of Public Health. A web-based registry allows law enforcement to verify the validity of the card.